# 1979 Australian Grand Prix

The 1979 Australian Grand Prix was an open-wheel racing car race held at Wanneroo Raceway north of Perth in Western Australia on 11 March 1979.
The race, which was the first round of the 1979 Australian Drivers' Championship, was open to racing cars complying with Australian Formula 1 (incorporating Formula 5000 and Formula Pacific). It was recognised by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport as the 44th Australian Grand Prix and was the only Australian Grand Prix to be held at Wanneroo Raceway.

## Classification

Results as follows:

### Qualifying

| Pos | No | Driver | Car | Entrant | Qual | Gap |
| 1 | 84 | Alfredo Costanzo | Lola T430 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | Alfredo Costanzo | 0:52.11 | — |
| 2 | 12 | Larry Perkins | Elfin MR8 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | Ansett Team Elfin | 0:52.77 | +0.66 |
| 3 | 25 | John Walker | Lola T332 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | John Walker | 0:53.00 | +0.89 |
| 4 | 15 | Terry Hook | Lola T332 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | Terry Hook | 0:53.20 | +1.09 |
| 5 | 24 | Jon Davison | Lola T332 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | Ranger Truck Rentals | 0:54.20 | +2.09 |
| 6 | 76 | John Wright | Lola T400 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | John Wright | 0:54.27 | +2.16 |
| 7 | 7 | John McCormack | McLaren M23 / Leyland 5.0L V8 | John McCormack | 0:54.67 | +2.56 |
| 8 | 11 | John Bowe | Elfin MR8 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | Ansett Team Elfin | 0:55.30 | +3.19 |
| 9 | 10 | Rob Butcher | Lola T332 / Chevrolet V8 | Rob Butcher | 0:55.85 | +3.74 |
| 10 | 71 | John Smith | Ralt RT1 / Ford 1.6L I4 | John Smith | 0:56.59 | +4.48 |
| 11 | 38 | Ivan Tighe | Chevron B37 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | Ivan Tighe | 0:57.11 | +5.00 |
| 12 | 30 | Peter Larner | Chevron B39 / Ford 1.6L I4 | Paul England Racing | 0:57.30 | +5.19 |
| 13 | 19 | Barry Singleton | Gardos GL1 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | Barry Singleton | 0:58.20 | +6.09 |
| 14 | 8 | Rod Housego | Elfin 622 / Ford 1.6L I4 | Rod Housego | 1:00.70 | +8.59 |
| 15 | 16 | Bob Creasy | Birrana 273 / Ford 1.6L I4 | Bob Creasy | 1:01.00 | +8.89 |
| 16 | 40 | Geoff Nicol | Elfin 622 / Ford 1.6L I4 | Geoff Nicol | 1:01.89 | +9.78 |
| 17 | 3 | Bill Downey | Minos / Ford 1.6L I4 | Bill Downey | 1:03.35 | +11.24 |
| 18 | 17 | Bob Kingsbury | El Toro / Alfa Romeo 1.6L I4 | Bob Kingsbury | 1:05.45 | +13.34 |

### Race

| Pos | No | Driver | Car | Entrant | Laps | Time |
| 1 | 25 | John Walker | Lola T332 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | John Walker | 63 | 59m 09.72s |
| 2 | 11 | John Bowe | Elfin MR8 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | Ansett Team Elfin | 63 | 59m 22.13s |
| 3 | 10 | Rob Butcher | Lola T332 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | Rob Butcher | 61 | |
| 4 | 71 | John Smith | Ralt RT1 / Ford 1.6L I4 | John Smith | 61 | |
| 5 | 15 | Terry Hook | Lola T332 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | Terry Hook | 59 | |
| 6 | 19 | Barry Singleton | Gardos GL1 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | Barry Singleton | 59 | |
| 7 | 38 | Ivan Tighe | Chevron B37 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | Ivan Tighe | 49 | |
| 8 | 40 | Geoff Nicol | Elfin 622 / Ford 1.6L I4 | Geoff Nicol | 45 | |
| Ret | 76 | John Wright | Lola T400 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | John Wright | 62 | Engine |
| Ret | 17 | Bob Kingsbury | El Toro / Alfa Romeo 1.6L I4 | Bob Kingsbury | 39 | Battery |
| Ret | 7 | John McCormack | McLaren M23 / Leyland 5.0L V8 | John McCormack | 36 | Gearbox |
| Ret | 8 | Rod Housego | Elfin 622 / Ford 1.6L I4 | Rod Housego | 33 | Exhaust |
| Ret | 3 | Bill Downey | Minos / Ford 1.6L I4 | Bill Downey | 30 | Transmission |
| Ret | 24 | Jon Davison | Lola T332 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | Ranger Truck Rentals | 20 | Fuel Pump |
| Ret | 30 | Peter Larner | Chevron B39 / Ford 1.6L I4 | Paul England Racing | 8 | Brakes / Suspension |
| Ret | 12 | Larry Perkins | Elfin MR8 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | Ansett Team Elfin | 0 | Accident |
| Ret | 84 | Alfredo Costanzo | Lola T430 / Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | Alfredo Costanzo | 0 | Accident |
| DNS | 16 | Bob Creasy | Birrana 273 / Ford 1.6L I4 | Bob Creasy | 0 | Gearbox |